Accord party alleges marginalization of Oke-Ogun, condemns Ajimobi over siting of Tech-U in Ibadan

Accord party alleges marginalization of Oke-Ogun, condemns Ajimobi over siting of Tech-U in Ibadan

Oyo State chapter of Accord Party (AP), has condemned Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the state for citing of newly created Technical University (Tech-U) in Ibadan, without taking into consideration the Oke-Ogun zone with 40 percent of the state landmass, 10 local government areas and population next to Ibadan, the state capital.

The party described what it called marginalisation of the zone as unfortunate saying it is the time for the sons and daughters of other geo-political zones: Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa, Oyo and Ogbomosho to realize that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has nothing to offer them apart from suffering and pains.

The state is made up of five geo-political zones, Ibadan (11 LGAs), Oke-Ogun (10 LGAs), Ogbomoso (5 LGAs), Oyo (4 LGAs) and Ibarapa (3 LGAs).

Accord in a statement made available to DAILY POST by its Publicity Secretary, Engineer Akeem Olatunji on Thursday said with the citing of the university in Ibadan, “the APC government is turning to divisive entity that doesn’t take into consideration the configuration of the state.

The party argued that Ibadan and other towns jointly owned the state, hence there is need for fair and equitable distribution of projects in the state.

Accord, however advised the state governor to put more energy and resources together by reviving the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), instead of investing millions of naira in the newly established Tech-U.

The statement reads, “Gradually Oyo State led APC government is turning to divisive entity that doesn’t take into consideration the configuration of the state.

“Ibadan and other towns or zones jointly owns Oyo State but reverse is the case with the establishment of a Technical University in Ibadan at a time the only government University, LAUTECH, situated outside Ibadan precisely in Ogbomoso is rotten away due to lack of funds.

“If we may ask what’s the rationale behind citing of another university in Ibadan with numerous higher institutions of learning when Oke-Ogun area with 40 percent of Oyo state landmass, 10 local government councils and population next to Ibadan in the state is lacking a University?

“It is noteworthy that LAUTECH total tuition fees paid by students from 100 level to 500 level was less than N40,000 throughout their studies while the N6,000 tuition fee was about 54 percent of the then N11,000 minimum wage during former Governor Senator Ladoja administration.

“However, the university is encountering serious financial problems that has crippled her activities despite paying exorbitant school fees of N65,000 and above under Gov Ajimobi led APC administration at a time the minimum wage is N18,000 and yet parents of the affected students who are workers or pensioners are being owed several months of salaries and yet the staffs and lecturers are passing through hell to survive.

“This is the time for the sons and daughters of Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa, Oyo and Ogbomosho to realize that APC has nothing to offer them apart from suffering and pains.

“Majority of our people outside Ibadan zone are agrarian and civil servants who depends on salaries for their upkeep but they bear the brunt mostly because they lack industries and business ventures to cushion the effects of non payment of salaries to workers by the state government.

Olatunji in the statement concluded that the Tech-U is not a priority until the LAUTECH lingering crises is resolved.

“As far as Accord party is concerned, Technical University is not a priority until LAUTECH is restored to her lost glory while Oke-Ogun is the only location that deserve establishment of such an Ivory Tower in case it is necessary.

All efforts to get the spokesperson of either the governor or the party’s publicity secretary to react to the allegations have proved abortive.

Special Adviser to the governor on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka in a reply to sms sent to him by DAILY POST correspondent on Friday directed our correspondent to the Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Wale Sadare, saying it was a partisan statement.

“Please, get the reaction from our party publicist Mr. Wale Sadare. He is in a better position to respond to that obviously partisan statement. Thank you”.

Sadare, however, has not replied to message sent (and delivered) to himas at the time of filling this report.